Brussels, 22 September 2026
The EU Council extended restrictions on more than 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine for three years. The review dropped three individuals and one entity and removed three deceased persons. Public reporting identifies Alisher Usmanov, Mikhail Fridman and Andrey Falaleev among those delisted, though the EU Council did not disclose the remaining names.
The EU Council decided today to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another 36 months, until 22 September 2029.
The current restrictive measures apply to more than 3 000 individuals and entities and include travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals and entities.
In the context of the sanctions review, the Council also decided not to renew the listings of three individuals and one entity, as well as to remove three deceased persons from the list.
After 24 February 2022, in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the EU massively expanded sanctions against Russia with the aim of curtailing its ability to wage war by significantly weakening Russia’s economic base and curbing its energy revenues, depriving it of critical technologies and markets, and targeting its military-industrial complex.
In its conclusions of 18 June 2026, the European Council reaffirmed its continued firm and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU will continue to provide, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.
The EU remains determined to further increase pressure on Russia and continue weakening Russia’s war economy so that it stops its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and engages in meaningful negotiations towards peace.
More information
- Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (consolidated text dated 7 August 2026)
- Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (consolidated text dated 7 August 2026)
- European Council conclusions, 18 June 2026
- Russia’s war against Ukraine: EU sanctions (background information)
Source – EU Council
Editorial note on the identified delistings
Two of the three individuals whose listings were not renewed are:
- Alisher Usmanov, Russian-Uzbek metals and telecommunications billionaire
- Mikhail Fridman, Russian-Israeli businessman and co-founder of Alfa Group
Their removal was confirmed by diplomatic reporting from Reuters and The Guardian.
We could not reliably identify the third non-renewed individual, the entity or the three deceased persons. The EU Council announcement does not name them, and the corresponding amending acts containing the deletions were not yet available in an accessible, indexed form. Naming them at this stage would therefore be speculative.
The available reporting broadly confirms the account, with two important qualifications: the detainees are described as French citizens or nationals—not confirmed intelligence agents—and “Banken-Magnat Fridman” means “banking magnate Fridman,” not that his bank was necessarily delisted.
- Slovakia initially used the unanimity requirement to seek Alisher Usmanov’s removal. France subsequently joined that demand. Tagesschau and RFE/RL identify both countries.
- France publicly invoked “national security”. Diplomatic sources said Paris linked Usmanov’s delisting to a possible agreement securing the release of two French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. Reuters reported that Paris believed Azerbaijan was using the case to pressure or “blackmail” France; Azerbaijan rejected that characterisation. Reuters
- Luxembourg then insisted that Mikhail Fridman must also be removed if Usmanov was delisted. Fridman has brought an approximately €15–16 billion claim against Luxembourg over the freezing of his assets. Tagesschau, Reuters
- Latvia strongly opposed the compromise but ultimately abstained, allowing the required unanimity to be achieved. Reuters reported that France agreed to begin talks with Latvia about participation in a French nuclear-deterrence initiative.
According to Western media, the political bargain therefore appears to have been: Usmanov delisted at the insistence of Slovakia and France, Fridman delisted at Luxembourg’s insistence – remaining listings renewed for 36 months instead of six.
The Russian coverage confirms the political account and adds one important name.
- Vedomosti reports that France, Slovakia and Luxembourg sought the removals. Slovakia first pressed for Alisher Usmanov’s delisting; France joined it; Luxembourg then made its approval conditional on Mikhail Fridman also being removed.
- Vedomosti says France’s position was linked to efforts to free two French citizens detained in Azerbaijan, potentially with Usmanov’s assistance. It does not describe them as French agents.
- Vedomosti’s news report confirms that Luxembourg’s demand concerned Fridman personally, not a bank, and connects it to his approximately $16 billion claim over frozen assets.
- Vedomosti has now identified the third individual whose listing was not renewed as Andrey Falaleev, former rector of the Crimean Federal University. Vedomosti report
This gives us the three non-renewed individuals: Alisher Usmanov, Mikhail Fridman, Andrey Falaleev.